Friday, January 13, 2012

Carnage

Two pairs of parents hold a cordial meeting after their sons are involved in a fight, though as their time together progresses, increasingly childish behavior throws the evening into chaos.

Review:

Carnage may have been on the short side, running around 80 minutes, but it did stop the film from packing a powerful punch. A film full of passive aggressive behavior, violence, squabbling, crudeness, hissy fits, crying, chaos, and enough wit to make it all hilarious. To watch four of the world’s best actors lash at each other’s throats in the most civilized way they can was really something to watch.

The entire film takes place in a Brooklyn, NY apartment where two couples are discussing a way to resolve a fight between their two sons. They start off being very civilized and try to be as friendly as possibly while insulting each other passive aggressive cheap shots. Things start getting out of control, especially when the scotch gets taken out, and chaos ensues. What starts with couple vs. couple turns into man vs. women and then even husband vs. wife. It’s a train wreck, you can’t look away and you can’t help but to think that the adults discussing the aftermath of their sons schoolyard fisticuffs seems tame compared to a case of boys just being boys.

The acting in this film was great as well. Christoph Waltz, Jodie Foster, Kate Winslet and John C. Reilly all played their characters perfectly. Three of the four already have little trophies for their acting and John C. Reilly shows that he deserves to have one as well. His character brought the greatest laughs. I always thought that John C. Reilly was a very underrated actor. I hate that he has been in garbage like Step Brothers because I think it is a waste of his talent.

Everybody really was fantastic in this film. The film had a little bit of everything in it. I also have a soft spot for films that run in real time. I always think it is a talent to pull off a good film in real time. Go enjoy the chaos that is Carnage.